Sunday brought on a very
competitive game with our own Hoops men left with two matches to play in the
next few weeks, first at home today to second placed Armagh Harps, then top of
the league St Patrick’s Cullyhanna in the first weekend in September. Today
would surely test the home team, with Paul Magee and Chrissy McGaughey starting
out field and Tyler Crawford replacing Darran McAvoy in goals. Three Armagh
players Charlie Vernon, Patrick Morrison and Declan McKenna also started for
Armagh Harps, and it was McKenna who scored an early long range point for the
Harps. Thomas McAlinden replied with a short range point before the Harps
managed to advance an early lead with Ultan Lennon and McKenna scoring two more
points. A glorious pass from Declan Breen set up Michael Stevenson to ease the
ball passed the Harps goalkepper to give Sarsfields a lead which would never be
overcome by the visitors. Four more points ensued from the High Moss men with
help from Michael Stevenson and Eamon McGeown frees and with two close range
points returned by full forward Shea Grimley for the Harps, the half time score
was posted as Sarsfields 1-6 Armagh Harps 0-6.

Again it was Declan McKenna
who got the visitors an early score this time setting up Ultan Lennon from a
tight angle however with only one more score from Con Stephenson until the
final minutes of the game, it was to be a quiet 25 minutes for the Harps
forwards. The crowd gasped as an early Thomas McAlinden goal chance was
thwarted as he rattled the crossbar. Over at the far side of the pitch it was
Paul Magee who came between Ultan Lennon and an early goal chance with strong
support from brothers Brian and Ciaran Kerr as corner backs, and with three
notable wides from the Harps, Sarsfields managed seven points all from play to
kill the game. Within ten minutes, Chrissy McGaughey managed two long range
points whilst Michael Stevenson scored three points as he received the ball
from a great run by Mark Reynolds. With two minutes remaining on the clock, the
Harps managed to claw back four points with the help of subsitutes Conor
Coulter and Conor White. Overall, an enjoyable sixty minutes and a valiant
performance by the Sarsfields men to post a final score Sarsfields 1-13 Armagh
Harps 0-12. Sarsfields play Forkhill in the Championship qualifier match on
Sunday 23rd August in Ballymacnab at 2pm. Sarsfields’ last league
game is away to St Patrick’s Cullyhanna on 5th September.